Emery Law Office January 2020

HELP YOUR KIDS ACHIEVE MORE THIS YEAR

WITH SIMPLE AND ACTIONABLE GOALS

DON’T DO ALL THE WORK FOR THEM. While it’s important for you to help your kids formulate their goals, be sure that you aren’t taking over. If they’re ultimately responsible for their resolutions, they’ll feel more compelled to keep them. Instead, suggest different goal areas they could improve, such as home, school, or sports, and let them elaborate. When it comes to creating habits, nobody is perfect, so even if your kids falter on their goals in the middle of February, don’t worry. The important thing is that you continue to encourage them every step of the way.

membership, do you actually try to do it? Your kids will assign as much importance to New Year’s resolutions as you do, so by sticking to your own commitments, you can help them stay on track too. KEEP THINGS SIMPLE AND ACHIEVABLE. When your kids are forming their resolutions, their first attempts will probably be very broad. Statements like “I want to be more kind” or “I will try to help more around the house” incorporate good values but don’t include any actionable steps. Help your kids think of tangible ways to act on those goals. For example, if they want to be tidier, a good resolution might be for them to clean their room once a week or take responsibility for one household chore every day.

With every new year comes an opportunity to reinvent ourselves or start down a new path toward self-improvement. Making resolutions is a big part of many families’ New Year’s traditions, and parents often have a desire for their kids to take part in that tradition when they’re old enough. Following through on resolutions is tough, especially for young children, but with your help, they can achieve their goals. PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH. You are your children’s role model for almost everything, including following through on New Year’s resolutions. So, ask yourself if you follow through on your own resolutions. When you proclaim that you will read more books or finally get a gym

HOW TO DONATE BLOOD, ORGANS, AND MORE THE GIFT OF LIFE

LIVING ORGAN DONATION Deciding to give up a more substantial part of yourself is a weightier choice, but there are organs you can donate without severely hampering your quality of life. Living donors can donate one lung, one kidney, or a portion of their liver, pancreas, or intestines. Given the severity of this decision, it’s best to do plenty of research before moving forward. DECEASED DONATION If you’re a registered organ donor, after you pass away, there is so much of your body that can be used to benefit others. From corneas and hearts to hands and skin, you can provide the gift of life to people after you’re gone. Deciding if, how, and when to donate organs and tissues is a personal decision that everyone should make on their own terms. If you’ve never considered the impact it can have, we encourage you to give it a try.

BLOOD AND PLATELETS Donating blood and platelets, which both regenerate naturally, is a great way to make an impact. The American Red Cross is famous for blood drives, and there is almost always a shortage of blood, which means there’s never a bad time to donate. You can also donate platelets, a specific compound in your blood, but that process takes longer and is slightly more intensive. BLOOD STEM CELLS Blood stem cells reside in bone marrow and umbilical cords and can be donated by healthy adults aged 18–60. However, these cells require a very specific type of match in order to be used, so it’s unlikely you’ll donate these unless a specific situation with a loved one arises. Like blood and platelets, blood stem cells taken from bone marrow will regenerate over time.

As the Drains’ story attests, donating life-giving organs isn’t just philanthropic but also literally life-changing. Obviously, nobody should feel obligated or pressured to give part of themselves for others, but if you are comfortable with the concept and able to do so, it is one of the most selfless acts you can undertake. Here are a few ways your body can give back.

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